The One Job Most Homeowners Skip
Vacuum the condenser coils once a year. They are on the back or underneath the unit behind a kick plate. Dust and pet hair insulate the coils, the compressor works harder to shed heat, and it runs hotter and longer than it was designed to. Compressor failure is what ends most refrigerators, and dirty coils are the most common accelerant.
It takes about ten minutes. Unplug the unit, pull the kick plate, vacuum with a brush attachment, and reach behind with a coil brush if the coils are rear-mounted.
If you have pets that shed, make it twice a year. Pet hair mats onto coils far faster than household dust.
Ice Maker Problems and Hard Water
Loudoun County water is hard enough that ice maker complaints are one of our most common refrigerator calls in Ashburn, Leesburg and Sterling. Small or hollow cubes, slow dispensing and off-tasting ice are usually scale in the water inlet screen, a clogged filter, or a partially frozen fill tube rather than a failed ice maker.
- Replace the water filter on the schedule in your manual, typically every six months.
- If ice tastes off, flush the water line after a filter change by running several gallons through the dispenser.
- Small cubes usually mean restricted fill, not a broken ice maker.
Door Seals and Temperature
Close the door on a dollar bill. If it slides out with no resistance, the gasket is not sealing there. A failing seal makes the compressor run continuously, which both raises your power bill and shortens compressor life.
Clean gaskets with warm soapy water a few times a year. Most gaskets fail from grime and hardening rather than tearing.
Warning Signs Worth a Call
- Running constantly and never cycling off.
- Fresh food section warm while the freezer stays cold, which usually means airflow or a defrost fault, not a dead compressor.
- Water pooling under the crisper drawers, typically a blocked defrost drain.
- Frost building up on the back wall of the freezer.
- Clicking every few minutes, which can be a failing start relay.
If you are seeing any of these, our refrigerator repair technicians cover Prince William, Loudoun and Fauquier Counties with same-day appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean refrigerator coils?
Once a year for most homes, twice a year if you have shedding pets.
Why is my fridge warm but the freezer cold?
Most often an airflow or defrost problem rather than a failed compressor. The evaporator fan, defrost heater or defrost thermostat are the usual causes, and all three are repairable.
Is it worth repairing an ice maker?
Usually yes on a unit under about eight years old, and the fault is frequently the water supply rather than the ice maker assembly itself.